107: What danger?
**Zion pov**
After the quick chat about what’s going on in the mountains, I couldn’t say that I’ll eagerly avoid the area all of a sudden.
Quite the opposite, I’m kind of stuck with a much greater need to return back there.
For a moment there, I sit and think, wondering how angry Kala would be at me if I up and left?
Not like I’d leave her for good or ended our relationship, which for the record is impossible unless I die.
I’m seriously considering finding a safe place for her to stay and keep growing our baby while I head in the mountains and find Aife and Jonathan.
As much as I wish I could find Bane, I also understand that if I happen to run into him, it won’t be my best friend that I would face.
Although I’m not much of a drinker, I’m so frustrated that I grip the glass of whiskey I ordered and throw it back in one gulp, savoring the slight burn in my throat.
After that, I approach some more of the locals, first making a b-line for a man who looks much older than others, thinking he might have more information than some rumors.
“Hello,” I greet him as calmly as I can, flashing an easy smile. “I’m Zion, I’m new here,” I say and offer him my hand for a handshake.
The corner of his mouth twitches but never stretches in a full smile as the man grabs my hand and squeezes it surprisingly tight for a man his age.
“Conor,” he grunts. “I know you’re new, we don’t get newcomers here often so every new face is far too easy to notice,” he chuckles and motions at the empty chair across from him. “Sit down, let’s talk, Zion.”
The tone of his voice sends shivers down my spine, but I hide the initial reaction with a wide grin and plop down, acting like I have no care in the world.
Maybe the old man isn’t exactly the sketchiest person I’ve ever met, but there’s something about the way he says my name that makes me uneasy.
Either he knows who I might be, or someone came here before us and stirred up trouble, mentioning our names.
“So, tell me,” Conor chuckles and nurses his drink, one eyebrow arched at me. “Why are you here, Zion.”
There, again, as soon as my name slips past his lips, it sounds like a curse, not a regular name.
I shrug off the unease again and force a wider grin. “My mate and I were on a hike nearby, we noticed the village and decided to check it out.”
Obviously it’s only a half truth but Conor doesn’t need to know it.
The old man chuckles and shakes his head before he throws back the glass and chucks down the drink surprisingly fast.
I’m truly amazed by how at ease he looks, if I had to drink that thing while it seems to be piss warm, I’d probably make the weirdest faces.
“You’re a shit liar, Zion,” Conor grumbles, catching me completely off guard.
And he notices that too, because the reaction that is plastered all over my face is something I can’t stop or control, so I don’t get enough time to hide it.
“Yep, I knew all along there had to be an agenda. You see, folks don’t come around here for no reason at all. It’s always the same, either they hear they can gain something from the visit, or,” he passes and meets my gaze, “or they’re bringing a truckload of their baggage of trouble here. Which one are you, Zion?”
I try to brush his assumptions off with an easy smile and a wave of my hand, but Conor has none of it.
“Everyone around here is watching you, you’re just too blind to notice how they are listening to every word. Folks around here don’t take it kindly to outsiders, you know.”
My breath catches in my throat but I try my best to act like that doesn’t affect me at all.
Something tells me that the villagers won’t be happy if I spill everything and tell them we kind of might have a demonic Alpha on our tail, so I choose to sprinkle some truth into my answer, but keep most of it a secret.
“You got me,” I chuckle and shake my head. “We’re here so my mate can see your doctor. She’s pregnant, we thought we’ll be able to get back home before she needs another visit, but she has had some weird feelings about it, so we were forced to find the first stop on our way.”
Conor watches me for a long moment until eventually, he nods, finally accepting my answer. “That, I understand. Taking care of a pregnant mate is important, you’re a good man.”
Relief washes over me, but it’s short lived, because of course, Conor has more thoughts to share.
“But don’t think I’m deaf or stupid. I heard you at the bar, asking about the mountain beasts.”
I curse in my mind and shrug at him, “can’t blame me, I’m a curious little thing. In all honesty, I just wanted to ask around about the mountains to assure myself there’s no danger out there. My mate is pregnant, the last thing I need is for some beast to attack us.”
Conor arches an eyebrow, still not buying my story. “And? Did you find something of use?”
“Well, yeah,” I chuckle, looking around and finally noticing that the old man is right - everyone is watching me from the corner of their eyes and some are downright staring. “I found out that we can’t return to the mountain if I want to keep her safe.”
The old man nods and hums in agreement. “Or if you want to keep her at all.”
I frown at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Conor chuckles. “Those beasts who live up there, they’re not just killers. They’re also known for their cannibalistic tendencies.”
My eyes widen a little. That caught my attention, damn it. Slowly, I lean over the table a little, closer to Conor and whisper, “care to explain?”
“You’re not in danger, don’t worry, Beta Zion,” he says, smirking as he tosses out my rank like it’s just another unimportant nugget of information. “Your pregnant mate, however, she’s in huge danger.”
I barely restrain myself from slamming a fist against the table, but the growl - that I can’t hold back. The sound is so low and deep, it rattles the window. “What danger?”
Conor smirks like he has me right where he wants me to be and mutters, “the lions eat the babies. They cut them out of the mother’s bodies and feast on the unborn.”
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